Europe’s third largest port city is fast becoming the first Seatropolis, using smart technology and fast IT to increase trade flows, protect resources, and improve the citizen experience—all with a projected 70% reduction in operational costs over the next 7 years.

Explore this presentation to learn more about Hamburg’s story and see the Internet of Everything—the connection of people, processes, data, and things—in action.

The problem: The Port of Hamburg handles 10,000 big vessels a year and seems tapped out of capacity. Yet capacity must increase. But how?

The solution: Hamburg is connecting ships to roads to bridges to lights—creating a port-wide nervous system. It’s built on an IT platform which gathers data from around the port, creates intelligence, and puts it to use in real-time via signage and mobile applications.

The outcome: Port traffic is now faster. Port logistics are simpler. Delays that were once inevitable are eliminated. Now, when a container ship approaches, it speaks in advance to a bridge that needs to be raised; road signage alerts drivers to change their routes; and the bridge goes up just in time for the ship, with little disruption to traffic. Smarter coordination means that larger quantities of goods can be trans-shipped in the port area. By embracing an Internet of Everything approach, the Port of Hamburg is creating the capacity to grow for decades to come.

A River that Measures Its Currents

The problem: Environmental conditions like water levels and wind direction matter to shipping companies. And clean air matters to everyone. In order to tackle environmental questions more effectively, Hamburg set out to collect better real-time information.

The solution: Hamburg is installing environmental sensors around the port and city. These sensors measure factors ranging from temperature and humidity to wind direction, air pollution, water flows and river levels. They feed constant updates to a control center where data is processed for immediate forecasting and long-term analysis.

The outcome: Incoming ships receive real-time reports on the water and wind conditions they’ll be facing. That helps them chart course and time arrival more efficiently. The city is also using its new environmental data to identify and target pollution sources. All made possible by a network that connects people, process, data and things.

Street Lights That Turn Themselves Off

The problem: How can Hamburg reduce energy use and port pollution as port traffic continues to grow?

The solution: Hamburg is connecting people, process, data and things to lower energy consumption. With Smart Traffic, Smart Parking, and Smart Port Logistics, Hamburg is reducing the amount of energy it takes to get people and goods where they need to go.

Through its Internet of Everything approach, Hamburg is connecting street lights to sensors. These systems recognize when there is traffic and when there isn’t. Data from the sensors is processed and transmitted automatically, telling lights to turn on when a vehicle is coming, and turn off after it passes.

The outcome: Lights waste less energy illuminating empty roads. Vehicles waste less fuel sitting in traffic or looking for parking. By connecting components of the city that were unconnected, and processing the data through an Application Centric Infrastructure, Hamburg is demonstrating new ways that the Internet of Everything can reduce energy consumption and improve citizen experience.

A New Way to Connect Government and Citizens

The problem: How can Hamburg improve the quality of essential government services without raising costs?

The solution: Hamburg is piloting a project to install virtual citizen kiosks in shopping malls and other public areas. These kiosks give citizens a convenient, low-hassle way to interact with government offices for routine services, like securing vouchers for kindergarten. Inside the kiosks, citizens have face-to-face access to city agents via an immersive video teleconference. They can ask questions, print documents and submit forms.

Through its Internet of Everything approach, Hamburg is connecting street lights to sensors. These systems recognize when there is traffic and when there isn’t. Data from the sensors is processed and transmitted automatically, telling lights to turn on when a vehicle is coming, and turn off after it passes.

The outcome: By using remote technology to bring city services to its citizens, Hamburg is able to improve quality of life without increasing its operating costs. Citizens have faster and easier access to services they need, and for longer operating hours. Plus they are saved a trip to city center—which is one more way that Hamburg is reducing traffic circulation and limiting its carbon footprint.

The problem: Hamburg doesn’t have space to build more roads. To handle growing traffic loads out of its port, it needs to make existing roadways more efficient.

The solution: Hamburg is deploying sensors and cameras across major roadways in the port area. These feed data about traffic flows into a central management hub for live analysis. The resulting intelligence is transmitted to LED message boards on the roads, informing drivers in real time about traffic conditions.

The outcome: A better driving experience and increased traffic capacity. Now the port will experience fewer, shorter traffic jams, less time wasted, less fuel wasted, less CO2 released into the air, and more efficient circulation of people and goods. All innovations made possible by a network that connects people, process, data and things.

Parking Spaces That Broadcast Their Availability

The problem: As the central hub for trade with Eastern and Northern Europe, Hamburg depends on trucking. When trucks can’t find parking, they waste energy, clog streets, and end up parking in residential areas.

The solution: Hamburg is installing sensors in parking spaces. The sensors feed constant updates to a control center that can then alert truck drivers to available parking in real time.

The outcome: Truckers find parking more easily. That means goods flow more efficiently, less fuel is wasted, less CO2 released into the air, less congestion on the streets, and less hassle for citizens. All made possible by a network that connects people, process, data and things.